Biography

Douglas M. Gage is Vice President, Strategic Partnerships for the Worldwide Construction & Forestry Division. He was appointed to the position in January 2007 and is responsible for the division's relationships with commercial partners such as Bell Equipment and Hitachi Construction Machinery Company.

Gage joined John Deere as an engineer at John Deere Dubuque Works in 1978 and held positions of increasing responsibility in construction equipment engineering over the next 15 years. From 1994 to 2000, he assumed various leadership roles in supply management, engineering, manufacturing, quality, and business planning. Gage was named Manager, Far East Operations for the division in 2000, facilitating the relationship between the company and its business partner, Hitachi. In 2003, he was appointed to the position of Chief Operating Officer of Bell Equipment, Deere's partner in South Africa.

Gage received a degree in mechanical engineering from the Rensselaer (NY) Polytechnic Institute in 1978 and masters in business administration from J. L. Kellogg Graduate School of Management, Northwestern University in June 1996.

Deere & Company (NYSE: DE) is a world leader in providing advanced products and services and is committed to the success of customers whose work is linked to the land - those who cultivate, harvest, transform, enrich and build upon the land to meet the world's dramatically increasing need for food, fuel, shelter and infrastructure. Since 1837, John Deere has delivered innovative products of superior quality, built on a tradition of integrity. For more information, visit John Deere at its worldwide website at www.JohnDeere.com.